Final answer:
Farmer likely recognized progress in understanding the history and social organization of Peru through a detailed examination of record-keeping via quipus, the non-amicable relations between Pizarro and the Incas, and the egalitarian nature of the pre-conquest Incan economy.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the provided excerpts, which relate to historical accounts and narratives involving Peru, Farmer likely knew he was making progress based on various indicators.
The use of quipus for record-keeping by the Incas as mentioned in the first passage suggests that Farmer, upon understanding this system, could verify it as a reliable source of information. The observation that all transactions since the arrival of Governor Don Francisco Pizarro were meticulously recorded without fault would imply that Farmer had trustworthy data to assess his progress. Furthermore, understanding the nature of the relationship between Pizarro and the Incas as non-amicable from the start could also elucidate the context of Farmer's progress, as he may have been unpacking the complexities and tensions of early Spanish colonialism in Peru.
Additionally, insights into the well-organized and egalitarian economic system of the Incan empire, where wealth disparity was minimized, and the narrative of Inca expansion and leadership could also inform Farmer's perspective on the progress of social and political organization pre- and post-Spanish conquest.